Pneumatic cartridge



(No Model.)

W. T. CHAMBERLAIN.

PNEUMATIC CARTRIDGE. No. 312,706. Patented Peb. 24,1886.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

ATTORNEY,

- llinrra Sra'rns ATENT rrica WILLIAM T. CHAMBERLAIN, OF NORIVICH,CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO BENJAMIN M. PRINCE, OF SAMEPLACE, AND WILLIAM CROSSLEY, OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS.

PNEUMATIC CARTRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,706, dated February24,1885.

Application filed June 18, 1884 (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, WILLIAM T. CHAMBER- LAIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Norwich, in the county of New London, State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and useful ImprovementinCai'tridgeShells, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawing,

in which the figure is a longitudinal section of a shell embodying myinvention, a firearm and projectile being also shown therewith insection.

My invention consists of a cartridge-shell adapted to receive a chargeof compressed air which, when liberated, iinpels a ball or cartridge, aswill be hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring to the drawing, A represents the barrel of a cannon or gun,which latter will hereinafter be denominated a fire-arm.

B represents a metallic cartridge shell, with has at opposite ends thetubular head C and tubular base D, respectively.

In the wall of the shell B is an air-inlet, a, which is covered by aninwardly opening valve, E, properly secured within the shell.

Passing through the breeclrl lock F of the fire-arm and the base D intothe shell is a plunger or rod, G, whose forward end is connected,preferably loosely, with a screw-plug, H, the latter engaging with thehead C and serving to close the front ofthe shell 13, it being noticedthat the base Dcloses the opposite end thereof.

. The shell. is charged with air, the same entering the inlet a, thevalve E closing when the proper charge is obtained. The shell is theninserted into the barrel of the gun through the breech, and thebreech-block F properly secured. The projectile is also inserted .in thebarrel, a tubular or hollow wad being introduced between the projectileand front end of the cartridge. The rear end of the rodGprojects outsideof the breeclrblock. where it is provided with a handle, G, in order torotate the rod, and when "the same is rotated the plug H is also rotatedand unscrewed from the head C, so as to move toward the muzzle of thefirearm, the effect of which is to uncover the head C and allow the airto escape from the shell 13,

so that its action is exerted on the ball or projectile, forciblyimpelling the same from the lire-arm, the result being accomplishedwithout the smell, smoke, heat, and fouling tendency of the powder, andthe danger of transporting and handling the same, it being seen that theshell remains in the fire-arm. The shell is removed from the firearm,reclosed, recharged with air, and again applied in position for furtheroperation.

In order to prevent leakage of air between the rod G and base D, thereis connected with the base, on the inner face thereof, atube, D,whichincloses a portion of said rod G and guides the same. To the front endof the tube is tightly secured a piece, D, of rubber tubing, whichfirmly embraces the adjacent portion ofthe rod and closes the jointbetween the rod and tube, preventing the entrance of airthereintowithout, however, interfering with the rotary and advancing motions ofthe rod when opererated by the handle G.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A cartridgeshell adapted to be charged with air, consisting ofashellhaving a tubular head and base, a screw-plug removably fitted tosaid head, and a rod or plunger passing through the base into the shelland connected with said plug, whereby by rotating said red the plug isunscrewed and the air is released from the shell at the front endthereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a cartridge-shell, ashell with a tubular head and'base at oppositeends, a removable plug fitted to the head, and a rod or plunger passingthrough the base into the shell and connected with said plug, incombination with rubber tubing closing the joint between the rod orplunger and tubular base, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

NVILLIAM T. CHAMBERLAIN.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. Wrnnmzsrrnnir, A. P. GRAMu

